Emotions are running high and the prayers getting loud. Cricket-enthused fans are making no bones about their proclivities to seek divine blessings, when in dire need
Emotions are running high and the prayers getting loud. Cricket-enthused fans are making no bones about their proclivities to seek divine blessings, when in dire need.u00a0 
Propitiating the gods: Politicians and fans are conducting various rituals
to pray for India's win. Representation pic
And these sports buffs are asking God for nothing less than an Indian victory in the semifinal today. The devout in the city and Pimpri-Chinchwad are gathering in large numbers for mass prayers and havans.u00a0Sheetalkumar Patil, president of Yashwant Institute, and his students, made a 'humble appeal' to God with prayers at Dhankawadi last morning.
Patil himself wrote an aarti (religious song) in which an appeal was made especially to Shankar, Ganesh, Ram, Krishna, Hanuman and also Sai Baba. The entire aarti was recited by Uday Patil and Aarti Da. Not to be left behind were politicos in Pimpri-Chinchwad.
Former BJP corporator Madhukar Babapar and BJP Yuva Morcha leader Anup More went a step ahead and conducted a Yashopurti Yajna, a religious fire ritual, at Akurdi. The party workers with the local residents chanted slogans like Jeetega Bhai Jeetega, India hi Jitega and Bharat Mata Ki Jai.
Another huge gathering took place in Rahatni Village at a Shiv temple, where Naresh Kule, a local wrestler, led the prayers. "We are sure that God shall listen to our prayers and India will also win the World Cup," he said.
Local priest Pandit Harishchandra Upadhyaya with at least 150 villagers were gathered together. BJP local corporators Pramod Misal and BJP Women's Wing Chief Aparna Manerikar took the initiative to perform a puja and also distributed prashad to the faithfuls.
Superstitious condemned
Dr Narendra Dabholkar, founder-president of Andhashraddha Nirmulan Samiti (Anti-Superstitious Committee) condemned the idea of yajna and prayers said it was spreading superstitions in the society through cricket. "Let India win the match with the good performance of our players and not because of prayers," he said. "By such nonsense, we are forgetting the sportsman spirit in the game," he said.
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